If Jon is dead, I will be pissed. There is no point in killing him just for another shock death that never happens. I just can not stand how he does these back from the dead plot points. It was cool when it was Cat at the end of book 3. Now, almost every major character has pulled that same trick and a good chunk happened in this book.

This book has left me with hope that this series is going to end in seven books or at least end well. It feels like we are at the beginning of the middle instead of the beginning of the end or the end of the middle of the story. The fact he is not going to write book six til next year fills me with dread. It wasn't a bad book, but it wasn't a good one either not one that I would almost 8 years for.

I just don't see how HBO is going to make this book as well as Feast of Crows into compelling television. They are middle of the road books and to be honest, a little bit boring. There is too much stalling with these characters and not enough headway. Danny in particular was bad in this. Tyrion took over the Arya role of getting into a bunch of shit that is impossible even in a fantasy book. Arya, Jamie, Davos and Cersie's stories all felt tacked on, but I will say tacked on or not they were at least interesting.

After a 6 month break from July, I finally read the second half of A Dance With Dragons. My complaint as I tore through the final few chapters was: "Where's the crazy shit?" I love these novels in no small part because of the crazy shit that happens towards the end. The Red Wedding/Joffrey's Wedding/The Red Viper's death/Zombie Caitlyn is the apex of crazy shit.

I feel like the Julius Caesar-like "death" of Jon Snow, the roasting of Quentin Martell, and the arrow to the gut of Kevan Lannister was George RR Martin aping his own Greatest Hits checklist: "Let's see: I need to kill a male Stark (or the closest thing to), I need to kill a Martell who does something really stupid, and I need to kill a Lannister... but not any of the good Lannisters."

Arya continues to operate as if she's in an entirely different book, now 100% removed from everyone and everything else going on in Westeros/Across the Narrow Sea. So many all-stars are across the Narrow Sea - Daenerys, Tyrion, Arya - and you wait for them to encounter each other but they don't. Teeth gnashing commences.

Waited the entire book for Stannis to stop building snow forts and seige Winterfell finally, but nope. A gruesome death for Ramsay and Roose Bolton is denied me. Gods, those two are pieces of shit. How many years must we wait before the satisfaction of seeing them die?

I did mark out for the return of Varys. I've always liked The Spider. However, the reveal of the hidden plot to restore the Targaryens to the Iron Throne -- I don't know. I kind of hate the reveal and existence of Aegon Targaryen being alive and groomed to rule in secret all this time. I liked that Daenerys was the last Targaryen. But then, she's still just a woman; she can't assume the Iron Throne some day without a man (dragons still won't be enough in Westeros laws.) So the potential is in place, if this whole series ends as I've always suspected and hoped for where everything comes full circle and the Targaryens are again ruling Westeros, to have Daenerys marry her nephew and rule the Seven Kingdoms.

Now, who is Ser Robert Strong, Cercei's secret helmed champion? I'm at a loss. Nor do I understand how no one knows who he is but he somehow got appointed a Knight of the Kingsguard. What did his resume and application say? "It says here you're Ser Robert Strong, hailing from... blank. The rest of your application is blank. Well, Ser Robert, welcome to the Kingsguard! King Tommen will be delighted to have you protect and defend His Grace."

Originally posted by John OrquiolaNow, who is Ser Robert Strong, Cercei's secret helmed champion? I'm at a loss. Nor do I understand how no one knows who he is but he somehow got appointed a Knight of the Kingsguard. What did his resume and application say? "It says here you're Ser Robert Strong, hailing from... blank. The rest of your application is blank. Well, Ser Robert, welcome to the Kingsguard! King Tommen will be delighted to have you protect and defend His Grace."

One idea, which makes a lot of sense to me, is that he is Gregor Clegane, who has been reanimated by Maester Qyburn. Since Qyburn has been working on Gregor since book 4, and Cersei asked for Qyburn to be given the white cloak to make the replacement after Arys Oakheart was killed.

One idea, which makes a lot of sense to me, is that he is Gregor Clegane, who has been reanimated by Maester Qyburn. Since Qyburn has been working on Gregor since book 4, and Cersei asked for Qyburn to be given the white cloak to make the replacement after Arys Oakheart was killed.

My friend told me the same theory earlier today. I guess The Mountain Who's Not Dead Like We Thought kind of makes sense, as much as things like that can make sense. I really can't think who else it could be. Who are the great fighters we've met in the saga who are in the Southron part of Westeros that could assume this identity? It's a very short list. At first I thought it could be Bron, but that made no sense. As long as it's not some complete bullshit like a Zombie Ned Stark.

Originally posted by John OrquiolaAfter a 6 month break from July, I finally read the second half of A Dance With Dragons. ...Arya continues to operate as if she's in an entirely different book, ..Waited the entire book for Stannis to stop building snow forts and seige Winterfell finally, but nope. A gruesome death for Ramsay and Roose Bolton is denied me.

I finally got around to finishing it too.When describing the book to friends, I basically called it "lots of people are travelling to marry Daenerys"

I was 'shocked' when they killed John, but I doubt it is the end for him.

I also assume there's a swerve as far as Stannis and the Bolton's go. Right away I figured they were lying, although mentioning Mance and his mission put a little doubt in that.They seem to have it all figured out.

Arya, I still enjoy her story line a lot, and I have no clue how she'll come back into the main story now.Although at the end, when Varys has children assassins...I wondered if they were trained at the same temple as Arya is being trained at.

And poor Tyrion, from hand to slave. I want him to kill Penny. Just because. And with him in the sellswords now, and Daenerys not in sight, I wonder where he will end up next. I guess they travel to Westeros to serve in some army.

It wasn't the best of the series, as things did tend to drag on a little, but as always it does leave me intrigued as to where it will go.

I'd second the recommendation for Ball Four without any reservations. Jim Bouton tells a really good story that actually leaves you wanting more. I'd also recommend Ron Luciano's The Umpire Strikes Back for those who like slightly more comedic books.